Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera is confident of the organization of the World Cup: “The social climate at the heart of the GIP has calmed down”
Amélie Oudea-Castera, Minister of Sport and Olympic and Paralympic Games, visited the Stade Toulouse this Friday. After lunch with President Didier Lacroix and a tour of the club’s facilities, he and the head of the Rouge et Noir club signed a charter of 15 environmentally responsible commitments for organizers of sporting events. In particular, a charter that includes adjusting the lighting, reducing the air conditioning, reducing the heat in gymnasiums or teaching young people eco-gestures.
On the sidelines of this signing, the minister returned to the news about rugby affairs, in particular about the former CEO of the Public Interest Group (GIP) France 2023 Claude Atcher, now the target of an investigation for moral harassment. Can this strange atmosphere, which has been kept for a long time in GIP, jeopardize the organization of the next world championship (September 8-October 28)?
“There is no anxiety, on the contrary, certainty and peace. The teams I met recently (at GIP) work hard, have experience”
“The event is very well prepared, Amélie Oudéa-Caster believes. We’ve seen the success of the ticket office, we’ve seen that the partners and companies are there, World Rugby is monitoring the quality of the organization and we’ve seen the GIP teams now under the management of Claude Atcher’s successor, Julien Colette. , was progressing very well »
“It’s very exciting from a sporting point of view because we have a team that is in top form and has won 13 games in 13 games. The minister continued. It’s extraordinary to be able to tell ourselves that we have a real chance to win the World Cup at home. We all have this opening match against the Blacks on September 8 at Stade de France. Therefore there is no anxiety, but rather certainty and peace. I think that the social climate has calmed down on the basis of this GIP. The teams I met recently work hard and have experience. »
The minister will go to Marcussis
The minister also spoke of Monday’s club consultation on the appointment of Patrick Buisson as vice-president of president Bernard Laporte, who was jailed for two years for corruption (he appealed) and has since been recalled. FFR. Is it for them? Against? Neutral?
“We find ourselves in a very complicated position, on the one hand, with the need to protect both the ethics and best interests of rugby, and to respect the presumption of innocence to which Bernard is entitled. On the other hand, Laporte, Observes Oudea-Castera. We have found a way with this retreat of Bernard Laporte, which is necessary for French rugby. We said to ourselves that we need clear guidelines to ensure the effectiveness of this retreat, and I called for a democratic time so that the vice-chairman could benefit from the club’s dubbing form.
“So this consultation will open next Monday and run from January 23rd to 26th. I will be able to have a discussion with the entire FFR Steering Committee on the morning of January 27th, as I will be going to Markoussis to analyze this consultation. I want to be covered with all guarantees and utmost fair play according to sporting values. It will take place under the auspices and supervision of the Ethics Committee of the FFR. »
What if he wins? Should new elections be held? “Answering this question will be the responsibility of the steering committee, which will meet on January 27. says the minister. Its members will take their responsibilities. We must all bear in mind that this consultation is not an administrative formality, it is a genuine democratic time binding on all clubs to be consulted. Therefore, it is important to draw binding conclusions. I have no doubt that the Steering Committee will do this responsibly on January 27, when it will be up to them to analyze the level of participation, the response and the way forward. what consultations will take place. »
